Winter/Spring 2017

Volume LXXV, Issue 1

FROM THE PRESIDENT’S PERCH From all indications, the next few years for the environmental movement may be the most challenging we have had in a very long time. Endangered species, wildlife habitat, clean water and air may come under serious threat. And yet, as we and many groups gear up for the challenges ahead, I am very optimistic and believe in my heart we have a great opportunity here in Northern New Jersey to accomplish many great things in the coming years. We have many more common principles that bring us together than divide us when it comes to our earth. Despite where we live or work and regardless of our socioeconomic situation or what political party you may belong, I believe we all recognize the need for clean water to drink, woods and meadows for our families to enjoy and the sight of a Bald Eagle flying overhead that renews our hearts and souls as human beings. It will take much hard work and yes, there will be battles big ahead. But I am positive through a local grassroots effort with enough good people and organizations standing together that care deeply about our environment, we can make great strides in preserving more open space, better protecting our endangered species and having a healthier and vital environment for all of us to live. My wish is that:  everyone stand up for what they believe,  get involved with a local conservation organization,  urge your representatives to care and protect the environment in which you live,  finally get outside and enjoy and appreciate the great wild places you have in your own neighborhood and ask what you can do to make them better. When we all join together there can only be great things ahead for us and for the wild places and creatures we all love. DON TORINO

INSIDE THIS EDITION

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CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT 2016 UPCOMING EVENTS & PROGRAMS FOR FEBRUARY—APRIL FIELD TRIPS, FEBRUARY—APRIL 2017 HAROLD FEINBERG CONSERVATION AWARD WINNERS EDUCATION GREAT BACKYARD BIRD COUNT

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BERGEN COUNTY AUDUBON SOCIETY— Officers, Directors & Committee Chairpersons

PRESIDENT: Don Torino 201-230-4983 VICE PRESIDENT: Karen Riede 201-463-0771 TREASURER: Dave & Nancy Hall 973-226-7825 RECORDING SECRETARY: Patrice Torino 201-414-0534 CORRESPONDENCE SECRETARY: Julie McCall 201-639-4647 FIELD TRIPS: Chris Takacs 201-207-0426 BLUE JAY: Nancy Salvati 201-840-0542 PUBLICITY, WEBMASTER: Peter Ernst 973-896-1483 CONSERVATION CHAIR: Mary Kostus 973-779-6929 EDUCATION: Marie Longo 201-498-0809 LEGISLATION: Dave Hall 973-226-7825 FIELD WORK: Dave Hall 973-226-7825 BIRDATHON: Peggy O’Neill 201-868-5829 MEMBERSHIP: Joseph Koscielny 201-337-3405

Published quarterly by the Bergen County Audubon Society, a chapter of the National Audubon Society. Send articles to PO Box 235, Paramus, NJ 07653-0235 or email editor, Nancy Salvati at [email protected].

SNOW NEVER GETS IN THE WAY OF A CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT. BCAS ' 68TH COUNT YIELDS 89 SPECIES PLUS 3 EXOTICS FOR TOTAL OF 31,971 BIRDS Our 68th Christmas Bird Count, held on Saturday, December 17 was surely one for the record books. After several very cold days that closed most of our open water, the count day never really dawned – there was too much snow falling! Then it switched to sleet, and then to steady rain until noon. The smart birder might have stayed in bed (some did), but our intrepid crew jumped into action early and did their best to survey the birds of the area all day. The results were amazing thanks to many valiant efforts, and a break in the weather during the afternoon. As shown on our Count page 7, we identified an excellent assortment of species, and quite high numbers for some. Waterfowl were clustered on the largest bodies of water, while streams and smaller ponds were frozen solid. All three Merganser species were found in impressive numbers. Raptors were very difficult to see for most of the day, so our counts came in low, but still with a nice variety. Passerine species were tricky to see well when standing in drenched clothing, using wet optics. Most of the highlighted birds on our list came from along the Hackensack River, Overpeck Creek, or Oradell Reservoir, including an amazing Caspian Tern, a Lesser Black-backed Gull, and a Goshawk. The first two are completely new to our Hackensack-Ridgewood CBC after 68 years! Using a new strategy to explore the meadows at Overpeck early, before dogs could scare them away, one group discovered Horned Larks, Snow Geese, a Woodcock and a Pintail among other good birds (thanks Jimmie!). Many BCAS members sent in counts from their bird feeders, helping to bolster counts for many of sparrows and finches. One “new” exotic species turned up at a feeder in Demarest – two Eurasian Tree Sparrows! Every year is different, but your help is always greatly appreciated! My sincere thanks to all who participated. Winter has arrived.

DAVE HALL

Dear Members, I hope you are enjoying the benefits of your membership: – this newsletter, free monthly programs, free field trips, free special programs, discounts at Wild Birds Unlimited in Paramus and the comradery of your fellow members. Please note that if you have received this newsletter by mail you may be missing out on other benefits. With an e-mail address you can receive this newsletter quicker thus helping us save the cost of postage, and reducing the amount of paper being generated. Also, further use of other computer services such as Facebook, can help you keep up to date with last minute additions, updates and changes in programs. You can also see photos submitted of the various sightings from our field trips that you may have missed. Just log on to Facebook.com and go to Bergen Audubon or log on to our website Bergencountyaudubon.org . If you want email delivery, just send me your e-mail address at [email protected]. coming program and field trip.

I hope to see you at an up-

JOE KOSCIELNY – MEMBERSHIP CHAIR

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EDUCATION Certified Wildlife Gardens. We currently have 73 BCAS certified wildlife gardens. Our latest is our first certified wildlife garden in New York. Please visit our website www.bergencountyaudubon.org for details and an application. Birding for Beginners. Interested in birding but don’t know where to start? BCAS is offering classes that will help you get started. Each class will cover field guides, bird identification and optics. The class will be followed by a walk, please bring binoculars if you have them. If you plan on attending, you’ll have two opportunities: DeKorte Park, April 2nd at 1PM or the New Jersey Botanical Garden, April 30th at 1PM. NOTE: Registration is required. To register contact Marie Longo (201) 498-0809 [email protected]. Project Feeder Watch at Teaneck Creek Conservancy from 9:30AM-10:30AM every Thursday and Friday (weather permitting) excluding the Great Backyard Bird Count weekend (2/17-2/20) . See page 5 for info.

Come join the fun and get to know the birds that visit the feeders.

Garden Volunteers Needed. Interested in gardening, want to learn about the importance of native plants and the negative effects of invasive plants? Volunteers are needed to help maintain our gardens. Contact Marie Longo (201) 498-0809 [email protected].

MARIE LONGO, Chair

SCHEDULE OF BCAS MONTHLY MEETINGS AND EVENTS - JANUARY-APRIL 2017

Meetings are held at Teaneck Creek Conservancy, Puffin Way, Teaneck. Programs are free and open to the public. Business Meeting at 7:30pm. Program at 8pm. January 18 (Wed.) – Celery Farm by Jim Wright . Bergen County author Jim Wright will illuminate the history of Allendale’s Celery Farm nature center and refuge and historic John Fell House – two subjects near and dear to this heart – in a free talk and slideshow. Wright will explain the unsung John Fell’s heroic role in the Revolutionary War and discuss the house that bears his name and the swamp that he owned – better known today as the 107-acre Celery Farm. February 15 (Wed.) – The Kearny Marsh 2016 by Ron Shields . This program will present a photographic essay of the avian life of the Kearny Marsh during the spring, summer and fall of 2016 from the unique perspective of a kayak. Ron Shields has been photographing the Meadowlands area for the past eight years and has made extensive contributions to The Meadowlands Nature Blog, as well as, Jim Wright’s many publications March 17 (Wed.) – Wetland Restoration, Creation and Enhancement in the Meadowlands, NJSEA (New Jersey Sports & Exposition Authority – formerly New Jersey Meadowlands Commission) by Gabrielle Bennett-Meany. Gabrielle Bennett-Meany is a Senior Natural Resource Program Specialist at the NJSEA. The New Jersey Meadowlands is a unique urban ecosystem. Wetlands provide habitats and breeding grounds for many species of animals and vegetation, filter pollutants and temporarily hold rainwater and runoff, which reduce flooding and soil erosion. Early settlers and 19th century residents sought to fill in the swamps and dike the creeks to make the land suitable for their purposes. A goal of NJSEA is to preserve or enhance the drained wetlands. Come join us to learn from Gaby how this is being accomplished. April 19 (Wed.) - Habitat and Season – Wild Food Plants for Birds and People by Bobcat Saunders. Both habitat and season are key determinants of wild food plants available for birds and people to eat. He will talk about their relationships, including pictures, food samples, recipes and a handout. Bobcat Saunders has been cooking and eating wild foods for over 5 decades, and lives to keep finding new and better ways to cook them. He has researched cooking from many countries, both formally and from regular everyday cooks (ex. Greece, Turkey, Peru, China). He has also studied with Tom Brown, Jr. (The Tracker), “Wildman” Steve Brill, David Winston, and Peeka Trenkle. For twenty years, he has taught “Going Wilder in the Kitchen” classes about cooking and healing for a number of outdoor organizations in NJ, NY and PA area.

If you have program ideas or speaker suggestions, contact Karen Riede, 201-463-0771.

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2017 FIELD TRIPS - WINTER/SPRING FEB.-APRIL 2017 Unless noted, all field trips are rain OR shine. For last minute changes due to inclement weather or other conditions, please notify trip leader. For additional information on trip locations, go to www.bergencountyaudubon.org. To make suggestions for field trips, please contact Chris Takacs at 201-207-0426 or [email protected]. For Meadowlands (NJMC) walks, Teaneck Creek Conservancy walks, and New Jersey Botanical Garden walks: Contact: Don Torino 201-230-4983 Email: [email protected]. All other leaders are listed below. February 5 (Sun) 10:00 AM. Richard DeKorte Park. Waterfowl, wintering birds. Meet in Parking lot. Contact: Don Torino 201-230-4983 [email protected] February 7 (Tues) 9:30 AM . Teaneck Creek Conservancy. Wintering birds. Meet in parking lot on Puffin Way. Contact: Don Torino 201-230-4983 [email protected] February 12 (Sat) 9:00 AM. Barnegat Lighthouse State Park. Looking for winter waterfowl, Harlequin Ducks, loons, gulls and other birds of interest. Meet at Lighthouse parking lot. Bring Lunch. Dress for cold windy weather! Contact: Bill Resotko 732-899-2004 & Peg O'Neill, [email protected] 201-868-5829 February 19 (Sun) 9:30 AM. Teaneck Creek Conservancy. Walk the creek looking for hardy Winter birds. Contact: Don Torino 201-230-4983 [email protected] February 21 (Tues) 10:00 AM. Laurel Hill County Park. Join us for a visit to Snake Hill (known officially as Laurel Hill and sometimes called Fraternity Rock) in search for waterfowl, ravens and early spring arrivals Contact: Don Torino 201-230-4983 [email protected] February 25 (Thurs) 8:30 AM. Hatfield Swamp. Wintering birds. Contact: Dave Hall 973-226-7825 [email protected] March 5 (Sun) 10:00 AM. Richard DeKorte Park. Ducks, Wintering birds, raptors and waterfowl Contact: Don Torino 201-230-4983 [email protected] March 7 (Tues) 9:30 AM. Teaneck Creek Conservancy. Wintering birds. Contact: Don Torino 201-230-4983 [email protected] March 9 (Thurs) 8:30 AM. Hatfield Swamp. Wintering birds, early migrants. Contact: Dave Hall 973-226-7825 [email protected] March 12 (Sat) 9:00 AM. Merhoff Pond. Waterfowl, wintering birds. Call Dave to register. Limited participants. Contact: Dave Hall 973-226-7825 [email protected] March 12 (Sat) 9:00 AM. Sandy Hook and North Shore. Looking for winter waterfowl, seabirds, and gulls. Meet at "B" parking lot. Bring Lunch. Dress for cold windy weather! Contact: Bill Resotko 732-899-2004 & Peg O'Neill, [email protected] 201-868-5829 . March 16 (Thurs) 9:00 AM. Weequahic Park, Newark. Wintering Ducks, gulls, early migrants. Contact: Dave Hall 973-226-7825 [email protected]. March 19 (Sun) 9:30 AM. Teaneck Creek Conservancy. Wintering birds. Contact: Don Torino 201-230-4983 [email protected]. March 21 (Tues) 10:00 AM. Mill Creek Marsh. Early spring migrants, waterfowl and raptors. Contact: Don Torino 201-230-4983 [email protected]. March 23 (Thurs) 10:00 AM. New Overpeck Park. Spring Migrants, waterfowl and raptors. Meet at Bandshell Lot. Contact: Don Torino 201-230-4983 [email protected]. April 2 (Sun) 10:00 AM. Richard DeKorte Park. Spring migrants, ducks. Contact: Don Torino 201-230-4983 [email protected]. April 4 (Tues) 9:30 AM Teaneck Creek Conservancy. Spring migrants. Contact: Don Torino 201-230-4983 [email protected]. April 9 (Sun) 9:00 AM. Demarest Nature Center. Palm Sunday Spring Migrant Walk. Meet on Columbus Rd behind NV Demarest HS. Contact: Flo Rutherford 201-214-2114, [email protected].

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(Continued ) Field Trips April 16 (Sun) 9:30 AM. Teaneck Creek Conservancy. Easter Sunday Spring Migrant walk. Contact: Don Torino 201-230-4983 [email protected]. April 18 (Tues) 10:00 AM. Harrier Meadow. Spring Migrants, waterfowl and raptors. Contact: Don Torino 201-230-4983 [email protected]. April 20 (Thurs) 12:00 -1:30 PM. Cooper's Pond - Bergenfield. Lunch with the birds! Spring Migrants, waterfowl. Contact: Flo Rutherford 201-214-2114 or [email protected]. ####

FALL FIELD NOTES: A Lapland Longspur was found at Richard DeKorte Park on November 18, 2016. The bird is uncommon to the area and arrived the same day Snow Buntings were seen in the park. It's far from its breeding grounds on the wet tundra in the Arctic, but has been comfortable feeding along the Transco Trail for over six weeks. It's in the company of Song Sparrows most of the time and has been seen consistently, providing many birders with life sightings. CHRIS TAKACS

JOIN BCAS FOR THE 2017 GREAT BACKYARD BIRD COUNT-February 17-20, 2017 The Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) is led by Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society with Canadian partner Bird Studies Canada and many international partners. The count is made possible in part by founding sponsor Wild Birds Unlimited. The GBBC provides an opportunity for people of all ages to learn about birds and the environment we share. We invite you to participate! Simply tally the numbers and kinds of birds you see for at least 15 minutes on one or more days of the count. You can count from any location, anywhere in the world, for as long as you wish! For more info visit gbbc.birdcount.org. Join BCAS for a GBBC instructional PowerPoint at Flat Rock Brook in Englewood on February 9th at 7:30PM. Then, join us for the count at Teaneck Creek Conservancy on February 19th at 9:30AM. We’ll also have opportunities for you to volunteer at local schools to help the students participate in the count, please check our weekly email for details as they are currently being confirmed.

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THE SEVENTH ANNUAL HAROLD FEINBERG CONSERVATION AWARD This award is named in honor of Harold Feinberg, our longtime member and field trip chairman for many years. Harold has been a mentor and an enthusiastic supporter of our endeavors and has always given freely of his expertise with a combination of patience and knowledge that few possess. These unsung heroes have given of themselves with little recognition and often with personal sacrifice. So it is in their honor that we are proud to announce our winners of the 7th Annual “Bergen County Audubon/Harold Feinberg Conservation Award.” Awards went to Jimmy Macaluso, Rich and Linda Greendyk and Tim Eustace as BCAS Advocate.

Jimmy Macaluso

Jimmy is the official volunteer monitor of the Osprey nests in the Meadowlands and the surrounding area for the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. For the past few years, Jimmy has spent countless hours and days throughout the spring and summer in all kinds of weather protecting the nests and reporting on all the critical scientific data. The information gathered by Jimmy helps determine the health of our local Osprey population and plays an important part in helping state scientists and researchers determine the future of the Osprey in New Jersey. Bergen County Audubon and our members owe a great deal of gratitude to Jimmy Macaluso for all his hard work and dedication caring and defending the Osprey of the Meadowlands region.

Rich & Linda Greendyk are known to Bergen Audubon as “Mr. & Mrs. Bluebird.”

Both Rich and Linda work hard every year installing, building and monitoring all the eastern Bluebird nest boxes at the NJ Botanical garden in Ringwood. They also maintain bluebird boxes at Highland Meadow in West Milford and Weis Ecology center in Ringwood. Their high success rate with their nest box program has helped the bluebirds make an incredible return to our state botanical garden. They work hard all spring and summer to make sure the bluebirds are happy and healthy. Rich and Linda build their own nest boxes and make their own posts, paying the entire cost out of their own pocket, and always calling it a donation to Bergen Audubon. As of this month, Rich and Linda met with Bergen County parks representatives and have begun installing bluebird boxes at Campgaw Reservation in Mahwah, hopefully to create a healthy bluebird population there in the future. Rich and Linda are special individuals that selflessly devote themselves to helping our environment and especially the Eastern Bluebird.

Assemblyman Tim Eustace Wins Bergen County Audubon Society 2016 Advocacy Award

New Jersey Assemblyman Tim Eustace of Maywood has shown a strong commitment and dedication to protecting and preserving our local environment. Tim is Chair of the Environment and Solid Waste Committee and serves on the Regulatory Oversight Committee (as Vice-Chair), the Health and Senior Services Committee, and the State and Local Government Committee. He is actively involved in protecting the environment through planting Milkweed and introducing bills that protect native species. Tim has co-sponsored bills to discourage the use of single-use non compostable carryout plastic bags due to the impact on birds and wildlife, bills to encourage planting Milkweed, adopt a Monarch Way Station, protect native species and an Integrated roadside Vegetation Management Program. The Vegetation Management program implements the comprehensive planting of native vegetation and wildflowers and plant species and encourages no-mow zones along our highways and roads "to improve roadsides in a way that will serve a variety of purposes, including climate control, erosion control, weed control, scenic quality, wildlife habitats, and utility easements. "

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BCAS 68th ANNUAL CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT - DECEMBER 2016

Pied-billed Grebe Dbl-crst. Cormorant Great Blue Heron Bl-crn. Night Heron Mute Swan Snow Goose Canada Goose Wood Duck Green-winged Teal Am. Black Duck Mallard Northern Pintail Northern Shoveler Gadwall Ring-necked Duck Bufflehead Hooded Merganser Com. Merganser Red-br Merganser Greater Scaup Lesser Scaup Ruddy Duck Turkey Vulture Black Vulture Bald Eagle Sharp-shin. Hawk Cooper's Hawk Northern Goshawk Red-shldrd. Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Merlin Peregrine Falcon Wild Turkey American Coot American Woodcock Ring-billed Gull Herring Gull Gr. Bl.-backed Gull Lesser Blk-bckd Gull Caspian Tern Rock Dove Mourning Dove Eastern Screech Owl Great-horned Owl Belted Kingfisher Red-bellied Woodpkr Yellow-b. Sapsucker Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker Northern Flicker

4 32 Low 91 High 1 14 High 2 5380 17 10 Low 263 1365 1 32 33 50 19 347 High 10,167 !! 4 High 6 22 813 2 CP 29 2 8 1 1 32 1 3 8 25 1 4047 131 32 1 !! 1 !! 935 509 12 2 20 148 10 163 36 15

Pileated Woodpecker Horned Lark Blue Jay Common Raven American Crow Fish Crow Bl-capped Chickadee Tufted Titmouse Red-br. Nuthatch White-br. Nuthatch Brown Creeper Carolina Wren Winter Wren Golden-crnd. Kinglet Ruby-crnd. Kinglet Hermit Thrush American Robin Gray Catbird N. Mockingbird Cedar Waxwing European Starling Northern Cardinal Eastern Towhee Am. Tree Sparrow Savannah Sparrow Fox Sparrow Song Sparrow Lincoln's Sparrow Swamp Sparrow White-thr. Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco Red-wgd. Blackbird Rusty Blackbird Common Grackle Brown-hd. Cowbird Purple Finch House Finch American Goldfinch House Sparrow Monk Parakeet Exotics Eurasian Tree Sparrow Pekin Duck Mallard X Dom. Duck

4 34 355 5 1609 66 289 249 10 155 1 29 6 7 3 1 227 2 26 14 911 125 Low 3 71 1 14 164 1 5 401 1012 63 Low 46 High 80 2 2 226 165 690 43 2 3 1

89 species plus 3 exotics 31,971 birds

species of special interest in boldface

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NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 28 Hackensack, NJ

BERGEN COUNTY AUDUBON SOCIETY A CHAPTER OF THE NATIONAL AUDUBON SOCIETY P.O. Box 235 Paramus, NJ 07653-0235

www.bergencountyaudubon.org

Dated Material January 2017

As Members of Bergen County Audubon Society, we share a love for birds and a concern for the environment. Our mission is to promote and protect wildlife in their natural habitat by providing opportunities for observation and conservation. All field trips and programs are open to the public and free of charge.

MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION 2017 Please enroll me as a member of the Bergen Audubon Society and/or the National Audubon Society. My check is enclosed for: Chapter Sustaining Member. $20.00 - Single or $35.00 for Family Membership. All funds stay in our area, helping us to support local efforts and provide services in Bergen County. Make check payable to Bergen County Audubon. $20.00 - National Audubon Society Member. (1st year rate for new NAS members only). Includes Chapter membership. Make check payable to National Audubon Society. Name: ___________________________________________________________________________________________ Address :___________________________________________________________________________________________ City:_______________________________________________________

State:____ Zip:___________

Phone: (____)_______________________________________________ E-mail (I would like to be notified of upcoming events online and receive the newsletter electronically.) __________________________________________________________________________________________________

Please mail to : BCAS Membership Chair, PO Box 235, Paramus, NJ 07653-0235 Volunteer opportunities in local chapter activities or committees are available. Please circle the following and mail with your subscription or see any officer or chair at one of the meetings. __ Conservation

__ Membership

___ Education

__ Publicity

__ Field Trips

___ Newsletter/Website

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